What Is PYWA?
PYWA is a national community of Presbyterian youth workers who are committed to developing and sustaining healthy youth ministry leaders. The organization formed in 2005 in response to youth workers throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who expressed the need to connect with other people who shared a passion and commitment for connecting young people with God’s amazing love, hope, grace, and justice.
PYWA connects, upholds, and inspires youth workers through advocacy, networking opportunities, webinars, online meetups, email blasts, Bible studies, book clubs, seasonal idea sessions, and conversations with youth ministry experts. Though begun in the PC(USA), PYWA has expanded to include other Presbyterian denominations and Reformed congregations.
Who Can Benefit from PYWA?
PYWA exists for all Presbyterian youth workers, including (but not limited to):
- Those who volunteer and those who are paid
- Those who serve in local congregations and those who serve in specialized ministry contexts
- Those who are ordained and those who are non-ordained
- Those who serve on Christian education and/or youth committees
Because PYWA wants to support and partner with all of the youth workers within a congregation, congregational memberships are the primarily way to join.
Who are the leaders of PYWA?
PYWA is currently led by a volunteer Board of Directors that consists of youth workers and pastors from across the country. The Board of Directors provides leadership to fulfill PYWA’s mission to connect, uphold, and inspire youth workers. If you’ve got questions for Board Members or just want to pick our brains, you can email us at director@pywa.org Or you can contact Rev. John Leedy or Shannon Guse, one of two board co-moderators if you’d like to speak with one of us directly and she will be happy to help you!
How Is PYWA funded?
PYWA receives its funding from membership fees, ministry partners, donations, and grants.
The Office of Christian Formation in the Presbyterian Mission Agency has partnered with five associations to support age and stage formation across a lifetime of Christian formation. APCE is proud to be a part of the Christian Formation Collective with Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network (POAMN), UKirk, Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA), and Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators (APCE). We partner with the Office of Christian Formation and with one another to support faith formation through new initiatives, leadership training and support and equipping our leaders for ministry. See the work of the Christian Formation Collective. You can also find out about our partners and the resources they offer by going to each of their websites.
